Clacton: Prolific shoplifter jailed after flouting banning order

A Clacton man has been jailed for a total of 76 weeks for ignoring a five-year banning order and continuing to shoplift.

Ricky Tibble, 44, of North Road, was issued with a five-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) at Chelmsford Crown Court on 15 July 2024, banning him from Co-op, Boots, Farmfoods and Marks & Spencer stores across Tendring.

At that hearing, Tibble had admitted committing four shop thefts earlier in the year, as well as charges of dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, using a vehicle without insurance, failing to stop for a police officer and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon.

Additionally, he was subject to an interim driving ban and told that sentencing would be deferred for six months.

However, Tibble continued to offend, Chelmsford Crown Court was told on 21 February 2025. He admitted five counts of shop theft and three of breaching his CBO.

Inspector Aaron Homatopoulos, of Tendring Community Policing Team, said after the hearing:

“Tibble is a prolific offender but last year’s deferred sentence gave him a chance to mend his ways. However, he continued to offend and ignored a court order forbidding him from entering the stores he targeted.
“Thanks to good CCTV footage and witness statements, he had no choice but to plead guilty to the latest set of offences at court and is now in jail facing the consequences of his actions.
“Continuing the criminal behaviour order also means that Tibble can be brought back to court at any time within the next five years and face another prison term should he breach it again.”

Between 24 November 2024 and 9 January 2025, the court heard, Tibble stole a total of £600 of alcohol and chocolate from Asda, Marks and Spencer and Morrisons in Clacton and the Co-op in Holland on Sea, breaching his banning order three times.

Tibble was jailed for a total of 76 weeks, banned from driving for two years and 82 days and ordered to take an extended test.

A new five-year criminal behaviour order was imposed by the court, to run until 20 February 2030. As well continuing his ban from entering various Co-op, Boots, Farmfoods and Marks & Spencer stores across Tendring, the new CBO bans him from entering the Asda and Morrisons stores in Clacton.

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